Filed to story: The Alpha’s Pen Pal Book
“I’m in the woods. Near the Amber Forest border. Reid—Beta Reid from Crescent Lake—is with me. Are you all right?”
“The rogues retreated. For now. I’m coming to find you.”
“The rogues are gone,” I tell him, even though I’m sure someone from his pack has already mindlinked him to tell him. “My aunt is trying to find us.”
His wolf moves closer to me, sniffing at me and nudging and nuzzling me with his nose, sitting on the ground right next to me.
“I’m okay,” I reassure him, wrapping my arms around his neck. “I’m just woozy and tired,” I say, holding onto him, my fingers clutching the fur at his nape. “But you’re here now.”
His fur is thick, soft, and warm, and I bury my face into it, clinging to him for support as another wave of pain wracks my body and the world spins again, and he lets out a low howl, signaling to anyone nearby that there is an injured warrior in the field who needs aid.
REIDI
lay on the ground with Taryn draped over me, my wolf creating a barrier between the snow and her body, keeping her warm. It’s been around ten minutes that we’ve been waiting, but it feels longer. Taryn’s fingers comb through my fur, and her eyes flutter, an exterior sign of the exhausted and semi-conscious state she is in.
The injuries she sustained to her head, leg, and feet combined with the adrenaline rush and stress to her body from her escape through the woods threaten to pull her under. But my girl pushes through it all, forcing herself to stay awake.
The enormous goose egg on her forehead has already gotten smaller, and the blood flow from her leg has stemmed, the cuts stitching themselves together slowly, both from our enhanced werewolf healing and from the presence of her mate. But even though she’s healing, she’s lost a lot of blood, and it’s freezing out here and getting colder by the second. I need to get her to my car and back to Crescent Lake, but she can’t walk on her own, and I need to stay in wolf form in case more rogues attempt to attack us.
Footsteps sound in the forest from my left, and I lift my head, my eyes tracking the movements of the woman approaching us. My wolf’s lips curl and a low growl rumbles in my body, and she halts her steps, raising her hands to appease me.
Taryn lifts her head, too, then she pats my wolf, pressing her forehead against my fur. “It’s all right, Reid. That’s my aunt. Aunt Gigi.”
My growl halts and I relax, and Gigi takes that as her signal to approach us.
“Are you all right?” she asks Taryn, helping her to her feet and letting her lean against her.
She’s taller than Taryn, and her toned and lean legs, arms, and body hint at her former or perhaps current warrior status.
I guess it runs in the family.
“I’m a little lightheaded. I’ve been drifting towards unconsciousness since Reid found me. But I can probably make it to his vehicle.”
Aunt Gigi glances at me as she supports Taryn’s weight. “Is it close?” she asks me, and my wolf gives her a nod. “Lead the way,” she says, gesturing me forward with her head.
I get to my feet and give Taryn’s hand a quick lick. She gives me a tight, tired smile and reaches to stroke my fur. Then I trot ahead of them, leading them to the SUV I left on the road when I took off to find Taryn.
I glance at them every few feet, making sure they keep pace. About halfway there, Gigi hoists Taryn up into her arms, carrying her the rest of the way. I let out a short whine and hesitate, but I keep trudging forward.
I should be the one carrying her. She should be in my arms, against my body, taking my heat. But Gigi doesn’t know where my car is, and I’m not about to show my future in-law my family jewels.
We reach the vehicle, and I sprint around to the back, shifting and popping the trunk open so I can grab a set of spare sweatpants that are kept in every pack vehicle. I throw them on and make my way back to the passenger side, where Gigi is already maneuvering an almost unconscious and shivering Taryn into the backseat.
I stare at her, my fingers twitching, unsure what to do. She needs me, but we need to get to the pack.
“I’ll drive,” Gigi says, and my eyes snap to her warm brown ones. “You’re stronger than me,” she says, shrugging, although her eyes glint and her lip twitches. “You can hold her better than I can on the curves and switchbacks. Especially with how fast we’ll need to go to get her back to your pack.”
I hop into the back, needing no more encouragement than that to hold my girl in my arms.
I close the door and scoop her into my lap, settling her against my chest as Gigi gets in the front and starts the engine.
“I’m sorry I left the wedding,” Taryn says, her eyes closed and her breaths deep. “He alpha commanded me. I had no choice.”
Two growls echo in the interior, and I meet Gigi’s angry gaze in the rearview before I turn my attention back to my mate. “Don’t apologize, Cadet,” I say, stroking her arm and kissing her forehead. “I should be apologizing. I shouldn’t have left you in the tent alone. I should have brought you with me or made Sebastian go with Nolan instead.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she replies, shaking her head and nuzzling into my chest more. “You’re here now. You’re mine.”
I hold my breath and freeze in place. “I’m—I’m what?” I squeak out.
“If I’m your girl, then you’re my beta. My Cookie Monster.”
She giggles and covers her mouth, and I swallow, choking out an unenthusiastic laugh, closing my eyes and pressing my forehead to hers, hugging her tighter, clutching her to me with all my might. “I think the blood loss and cold have made you delirious,” I whisper. “But yeah, I’m yours, Taryn. I’m all yours.”
As soon as we cross into Crescent Lake territory, I direct Gigi to the pack hospital, jumping out as she pulls into the loading zone before the SUV comes to a complete stop. Taryn is almost unconscious, and I run into the lobby with her in my arms.
The hospital is in chaos, with nurses and interns running around and shouting orders. Exhausted members of our pack, Amber Forest, and Silver Ridge fill the chairs, and there are several gurneys and temporary beds set up in the waiting area and hallways with werewolves in various states, although none of them seem to be in grave condition.
“Reid!” Haven jogs towards me, Nolan right behind her. Her red hair is a mess, and she’s traded her wedding dress for a pair of black leggings and her old Salt Lake City Ballet sweatshirt. “Is she all right?” she asks when she reaches us.
“She’s fine. Just some minor injuries, but she probably needs some blood and fluids and maybe an antibiotic just in case. The wound is already healing, but it was a rogue, so who knows what kind of filth and disease he was carrying.”
Haven nods and glances at Taryn and back up at me, at my gaze that doesn’t leave Taryn’s rolling and fluttering eyes and at my hands clutching her to my chest. “Wesley called me a few minutes ago. They are on their way back,” she says, her voice low. “The pack evacuated because the rogues destroyed their bunker. Half of them came here, and the rest went to Ben’s pack—to Amber Forest.”
“Dominic?” Taryn asks, her eyes opening for a moment.
“I don’t know,” Haven tells her, shaking her head. “Wesley only gave me a very brief report before hanging up.”
Taryn nods and closes her eyes again, leaning her head against my chest.
“Dr. Russo set a room aside for her. For you,” Haven says, and I finally look at her. “He figured you would want some privacy since…”
She trails off and scratches at her neck, her fingers playing with her mark.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?